Kinetics of phase separation in polymer-solvent mixtures - art. no. 021513

We investigate the kinetics of phase separation in systems with a strong as ymmetry in the mobility. This simple model system mimics the segregation ki netics of polymer-solvent mixtures, where the polymer-rich phase forms a lo w-mobility gel. We obtain detailed numerical results for this model, both w ithout and with thermal noise. In the absence of thermal noise, we find tha t domain growth is slowed down drastically when the low-mobility phase perc olates the system. However, thermal noise restores rapid domain growth thro ugh a Brownian coalescence mechanism.